The Girl Who Stutters is a new, free e-book available from the Stuttering Foundation that’s perfect for young readers. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and SLPs should take note of this book for use with their elementary children, grandchildren, and students.
 
Starring Mia Johnson, The Girl Who Stutters is a collaborative project undertaken by two graduate students in Speech Language Pathology at Portland State University, Casey Watson and Becca Dunn, under the direction of Glenn Weybright. Glenn is Mia’s SLP and an adjunct instructor at the University. Glenn wanted to help Mia be a little more open about her stuttering, and this book project provided just the right vehicle since it gave Mia a voice in talking about her stutter.
 
“I want this book to help other kids who stutter. I hope they feel happy after they read the book and less alone,” wrote Mia in the forward to the book. 
 
In the book, Mia’s hobbies and interests, first experiences with stuttering, interactions with her family, and her first visit to a speech language pathologist are chronicled in her own voice, along with beautiful photos and drawings to help the reader imagine every detail about the central character. 
 
In addition, the graduate students have included several worksheets and handouts for family and clinicians to use with young people who stutter.
 
In a recent interview, we learned that Mia was born in Bozeman, Montana, but now lives in Portland, Oregon. She loves to dance, bake, and hang out with her friends. She’s attended speech therapy since second grade, but improvement in her speech really started to happen when she started working with Glenn. 
 
When asked about her fluency today, Mia told us, “I have good days and bad days with my stuttering. I don’t always like to use my tools because I feel like it’s not my real personality. I know what tools to use and when. For example, I use ‘easy onset’ when I give speeches at school, but when talking at home or to my friends I just let myself be me.”
 
Like many kids her age, Mia faces some challenges at school and in other social situations.
 
“The biggest challenge is meeting new people who don't know me and I have to explain that I stutter,” she added. “Sometimes I have to confront people who make fun of me because they don’t get it. It’s not mean; they just have never met anyone that stutters before! There are some people that are just mean though. But everyone has issues, right!” 
 
You’re right, Mia!
 
Mia knows that sometimes it’s hard to speak fluently. 
 
“My biggest accomplishments are just everyday things, like ordering my food or getting a drink at Starbucks and not stuttering. Sometimes the people make fun of me when I order; I usually let it go.” 
 
Wow. We admire your courage and self-confidence, Mia! And thank you for sharing such a wonderful book with us.
 
Click here to download this free e-book.
 
From the Winter 2016 Newsletter